Dark Horse Comics Debuts Yearlong 30th Anniversary Variant Program

2016 marks 30 years since Dark Horse Comics erupted onto the scene with their very first title, Dark Horse Presents. Since 1986, Dark Horse Presents has won multiple Eisner and Harvey Awards and launched some of comics’ greatest heroes.

This week, Dark Horse is releasing a new variant program which will continue throughout 2016. Every month, one comic will be selected to have a very special 30th Anniversary variant cover paying homage to a specific issue of Dark Horse Presents. Additionally, each issue serves as a perfect jumping-on point for new readers!

Now on comic store shelves is the Hellboy Winter Special, which features Mignolaverse debuts by Tim Sale (Captain America: White), Michael Walsh (Secret Avengers), Chris Roberson (iZombie), and Chelsea Cain (Heartsick, One Kick). The Mike Mignola cover artwork is a throwback to the very first issue of Dark Horse Presents (1986).

Continuing where the Rise of the Tomb Raider game left off, Lara Croft takes on fresh adventures in a new comic series by Eisner Award–winning writer Mariko Tamaki (This One Summer). Hitting stands in February, the stunning variant cover by Joëlle Jones harks back to Dark Horse Presents #9 (1987).

In March, Dan Abnett begins Predator: Life and Death, the first chapter in a new story cycle involving Predators, Aliens, and the mysterious Engineers from Prometheus! The variant cover, drawn by Dark Horse senior editor Chris Warner, is a return to Warner’s original cover forDark Horse Presents #35 (1989).

And in April, Brian Wood brings his sharp storytelling to Aliens: Defiance, while rising star Tristan Jones draws the scariest xenomorph you’ve seen in years. The variant cover features incredible artwork by original Aliensartist Mark A. Nelson and evokes Dark Horse Presents #40 (1990).

More 30th Anniversary variant covers will be revealed soon, so make sure to head to your local comic shop to pick up these extremely collectible Dark Horse covers!